STANFORD — Kevin Hogan hasn’t missed a game due to injury — hasn’t even missed a meaningful series, in fact — since he took over as Stanford’s starting quarterback late in the 2012 season.

If that should change this season, Evan Crower is ready. Finally.

The redshirt junior has made significant strides in his understanding of the playbook and established himself as “a guy who’s ready to play for us,” according to coach David Shaw.

Crower, who grew up in San Diego, committed to the Cardinal under former coach Jim Harbaugh in the fall of his junior year at St. Augustine High.

His experience to this point consists of four mop-up appearances last season in which he threw just 15 passes — hardly an indication of his ability to execute in pressure situations against top-tier opponents.

But the 6-foot-5 left-hander was sharp in spring practice and distanced himself from redshirt freshman Ryan Burns. Crower is aware of the unique role of the backup quarterback, who is the least important player on the roster until he’s the most important.

“Anything can happen, so I have to stay ready,” he said. “I take mental reps (in practice) when I’m not in there, and that goes a long way. I try to learn as much as I can from Kevin — anything to get an edge.”

The difference this season, Crower believes, is his command of the offense in general and the running game in particular. He’s better able to recognize the defensive fronts and switch into more advantageous plays at the line of scrimmage.

“He’s really playing well,” Shaw said. “He’s continuing what he did in the spring … If Kevin breaks his shoelace, Evan is going in to run the whole show.”

Shaw confirmed Friday what has been assumed since the first day of training camp: Redshirt sophomore Johnny Caspers will start at right guard.

The starting tailback, inside linebacker and safety will be announced next week with the release of the depth chart.

Receiver Ty Montgomery has not been cleared by the medical staff to participate in the Aug. 30 season opener against UC Davis. A decision is expected early next week.

Montgomery, who had offseason shoulder surgery, uses a yellow jersey in practice to remind would-be tacklers to stay away.

“I hate the yellow jersey,” he said.

Shaw expressed concern in late July about Montgomery’s availability for the opener and the Week 2 showdown against USC. But the senior has shown no ill effects from the surgery during camp.

“I don’t want to talk about my shoulder too much, but I feel good,” he said.

Stanford devoted several practice periods this week to preparation for UC Davis, which defeated the Cardinal in a massive upset the last time the teams met (2005).

Researchers said Sunday the mass die-off occurred because unusually large amounts of sea ice forced penguin parents to travel farther in search of food for their young. By the time they returned, only two out of thousands of chicks had survived.